Actions of progesterone
Progesterone is usually formed in the second half of the menstrual cycle after ovulation. Progesterone's most important function is to cause changes in a woman's uterus and reproductive organs to allow fertilization and implantation of her egg. At the end of each cycle, progesterone levels drop; when this happens, excess tissue in the uterus is shed, resulting in menstruation. Progesterone causes other effects, including breast growth, fluid retention, and a slight increase in body temperature.
Breastfeeding and progesterone
During pregnancy, breast size increases due to the action of estrogen and progesterone. However, milk secretion begins only after childbirth. Lactation is controlled by two hormones, prolactin and oxytocin. Milk is produced by prolactin, which is produced in the mother's pituitary gland. Breast milk release is due to another hormone, oxytocin. In addition to its role in milk formation, prolactin also acts on the pituitary gland. There, it blocks the release of follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, and leutenizing hormone, or LH. These two hormones are responsible for stimulating the ovary to form follicles that ovulate. At this time, neither estrogen nor progesterone is formed. Because ovulation is prevented during this time, breastfeeding can be a moderately effective form of contraception.
Hormones during lactation
Successful breastfeeding depends directly on hormonal levels. At the end of pregnancy, its next restructuring begins. This can affect both lactation itself and the general well-being of women, and metabolic disorders.
And here is more information about excess weight after childbirth.
What does breastfeeding depend on?
Already in the middle of pregnancy, the mammary glands are ready for feeding, but the release of milk is prevented by placental hormones. After its separation from the uterus, the level of placental progesterone, estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin drops, which triggers lactation.
Milk production is controlled by pituitary prolactin. During pregnancy, high levels of the hormone are maintained by estrogens. They cause an increase in the number and volume of pituitary cells responsible for its synthesis.
Utrogestan and breastfeeding are incompatible
Utrozhestan is a drug whose active ingredient is the female sex hormone progesterone.
The peculiarity of progesterone is that it partially suppresses the secretion of the pituitary hormone oxytocin, which regulates the secretion of human milk. How does progesterone work?
Progesterone promotes the formation of normal mucous membrane of the uterine cavity in women and its transition from the proliferation phase (increased cell division and growth) to the phase of secretion necessary for the implantation and development of a fertilized egg. If not enough progesterone is released, menstrual irregularities and infertility may occur.
Progesterone is also the main active hormone of pregnancy and if its secretion is insufficient, pregnancy can be terminated. This happens because progesterone suppresses the contractile activity of the uterine muscles. If during pregnancy there is a threat of miscarriage, then medications containing progesterone are prescribed, for example, Utrozhestan. Utrozhestan corrects progesterone deficiency.
Interaction between progesterone and oxytocin
Progesterone suppresses the release of the posterior pituitary hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the secretion of milk by the functioning mammary gland. The mechanism of action of oxytocin is to stimulate the contraction of smooth muscle fibers of the mammary gland and uterus. Throughout pregnancy, progesterone “reigns” in the body. Progesterone is normal and pathological; under its influence, the mammary gland prepares for lactation.
But immediately before childbirth, the amount of progesterone decreases sharply, but the secretion of oxytocin increases, which first stimulates the contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus (birth occurs), and then the mammary gland - it begins to secrete milk. As a result of contraction of the smooth muscles surrounding the alveoli (glandular tissue of the mammary gland that produces milk), milk is squeezed out of the alveoli into the milk ducts and lactation begins.
Immediately after childbirth, a woman is recommended to put her baby to her breast more often - contraction of the smooth muscles of the milk ducts causes a friendly contraction of the muscles of the uterus, the uterus contracts and decreases in volume faster. The immediate stimulus for the secretion of oxytocin is mechanical stimulation of the nerve endings in the nipples of the mammary gland, which causes a reflex release of oxytocin by the pituitary gland.
In the body, oxytocin is destroyed quite quickly. The blood of pregnant women contains the enzyme oxytocinase, which inactivates oxytocin by breaking down molecules. 10–14 days after childbirth, this enzyme disappears in the woman’s blood and oxytocin is inactivated by another enzyme.
Violation of the secretion of oxytocin leads to disruption of labor and disruption of the activity of the mammary glands during lactation.
How does utrogestan affect lactation?
During lactation, utrozhestan is usually not prescribed - this is not necessary. If any irregularities in the menstrual cycle occur after childbirth, this is not detected immediately and the woman may well continue to feed the child.
A doctor may prescribe Utrozhestan to prevent the growth of areas of endometriosis or uterine fibroids. In this case, lactation will certainly decrease, since the secretion of oxytocin is blocked. Therefore, you will have to choose what is more important at the moment: treating the mother or breastfeeding the child.
Oxytocin drugs that stimulate lactation
These drugs include demoxytocin, which is marketed by some pharmaceutical companies under the name sandopart. This is a synthetic analogue of oxytocin, which stimulates labor and lactation. The mechanism of action of this drug is based on the fact that it increases the tone and contractility of the smooth muscles of the uterus and the contraction of smooth muscle cells surrounding the alveoli of the mammary glands.
Sandopart is available in tablets that are placed behind the cheek or under the tongue and kept there until completely dissolved. The dose of the drug is prescribed by the doctor individually, but usually to stimulate lactation it is used five minutes before feeding the baby. Breastfeeding is a personal choice of taking half or a whole tablet under the tongue.
Side effects of sandopart can manifest themselves in the form of nausea, vomiting, labor disturbances, premature placental abruption, heart rhythm disturbances, intrauterine fetal hypoxia Fetal hypoxia - what can result from oxygen deficiency in the body (lack of oxygen due to compression of blood vessels by muscles), individual intolerance components of the drug.
Contraindications for taking Sandopart are hypersensitivity to the drug and conditions in which natural childbirth cannot occur (for example, discrepancy between a narrow pelvis and the size of the fetus).
Galina Romanenko
Article tags:
- Utrozhestan
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When hormones return to normal after breastfeeding
The lactation period is extremely important for hormonal levels after pregnancy. It normalizes fat metabolism (the level of “bad” cholesterol decreases) and carbohydrate metabolism (physiological insulin resistance disappears). These factors help improve the health of the mother and prevent her from developing atherosclerosis and diabetes.
Upon completion of feeding, prolactin levels decrease. This has a disinhibiting effect on the pituitary gland's production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones. They, in turn, trigger the cyclic functioning of the ovaries. To normalize the cycle, 10-15 weeks are usually enough.
At first, your periods may be unusual and painful. It is allowed to restore their usual characteristics for up to six months. At this time, drops of milk may be released from the breast.
Drip of milk from the breast
For longer rhythm disturbances (delays, irregular menstruation) or intensity of discharge (scanty, heavy), bleeding between periods, a consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.
He prescribes an examination plan, including blood tests for hormones:
- pituitary gland – prolactin, gonadotropins (follitropin, lutropin);
- sexual – estradiol, progesterone, testosterone;
- thyroid gland - thyroxine (usually in combination with pituitary thyrotropin);
- adrenal glands - cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone.
Blood tests for hormones
When is pumping useful?
Unlike night feedings, the benefits of which are obvious, there is no point in accumulating milk in the breast. In addition to the risk of developing lactostasis and mastitis, lactation slows down naturally. The brain receives information that there is enough milk, and prolactin production slows down. If you breastfeed the baby or simply express milk, it will begin to be produced again.
The production of prolactin is also stimulated by pumping: the brain receives information about insufficient milk, and the hormone strengthens its work. Therefore, if the child objectively remains hungry, it is worth going for such a kind of deception. It is important to know about this in case of forced separation from the baby (for example, the mother is in the hospital separately from the baby). In this case, frequent pumping will help maintain full lactation. By the way, it is better to do this at night, recreating the most natural conditions, then the prolactin level will remain at a normal level.
In addition, the function of prolactin is to block the mechanisms of sexual activity, which, in general, is natural: after the birth of a baby, nature sets completely different tasks for its mother. By suppressing ovulation, prolactin forms the mother’s attachment to the newborn and the corresponding behavior pattern. By the way, the maternal instinct is also greatly supported by oxytocin: those mothers whose blood levels are higher are less tired of the cycle of repeated procedures for caring for the baby.
Hormones for contraception during breastfeeding
Prolactin has a contraceptive effect, but it manifests itself only in the first six months after birth and if the baby is fed only breast milk. Then its effect weakens, and with insufficient production of the hormone, the possibility of pregnancy appears already in the first months after childbirth. It is extremely undesirable for the body, since its recovery is not yet complete.
Therefore, it is recommended to use the following means:
- condom - from the time of resumption of sexual contacts;
- suppositories, gels, vaginal tablets with spermicides - used from the first month;
- intrauterine device - allowed 8 weeks after birth.
Hormonal medications can be prescribed by a gynecologist no earlier than 1.5-2 months after the birth of the child. Acceptable drugs include low-dose tablets containing progesterone (Charozetta, Exluton, Femulen, Microlut). They are also called “mini-pills”.
It is also possible to use the extended-release gestagen Depo-Provera by injection. Although these drugs do not change the secretion of milk and do not affect the baby, their independent use is prohibited. After lactation has stopped, combined hormonal drugs containing estrogen and progesterone are prescribed. They are more consistent with the natural release of hormones.
And here is more information about hormones in children.
Prolactin from the pituitary gland and oxytocin from the hypothalamus are responsible for lactation. Their secretion during breastfeeding increases with frequent latching of the baby to the breast and complete emptying of the mammary glands. Breastfeeding is also influenced by sex, pituitary, adrenal and thyroid hormones. Violation of their levels leads to a lack of milk, weight gain, and mood swings.
The restoration of normal hormone levels at the end of lactation occurs in an average of 2.5 months. To choose a method of contraception for breastfeeding, you need to contact a gynecologist.
Excess weight appears after childbirth for various reasons, including hormonal imbalance, poor nutrition, and low mobility. How long it takes for it to go away is influenced by lifestyle and the number of kilos gained. After giving birth, you can lose weight, but you can only get rid of it with some effort and identifying the reason for its gain.
Hormones change quite actively after childbirth. There are certain signs that may indicate a failure. In this case, they are submitted for analysis. What happens to hormones? When will they return to normal? Which ones need to be checked and how to restore them in women?
There are two rules on how to lose weight after hormones - diet and exercise. This will help even after childbirth, taking artificial hormones. It is worth understanding that the weight will not go away quickly. How can you lose weight effectively?
What is progesterone
Progesterone is known to many as the pregnancy hormone. It is produced primarily in the gonads (in both men and women), but also in small amounts in the adrenal glands. Progesterone greatly affects reproductive processes in a woman’s body. Why is progesterone needed in the female body?
If a woman cannot become pregnant for a long time, doctors often prescribe progesterone, since this hormone:
relaxes the uterine muscles and inhibits contractions that can terminate the pregnancy; helps stop the menstrual cycle; stimulates the sebaceous glands, which create a supply of nutrients in the form of sebum; increases blood pressure; enhances the growth of the uterus; increases the likelihood of successful implantation of the egg in the uterus;
Progesterone is actively involved in many important life processes. For example, in regulating blood sugar levels and developing reproductive organs. How to test progesterone
In the body of a healthy woman, with the arrival of ovulation, the level of progesterone begins to increase. This is a kind of signal from the body that a favorable moment has arrived for conception. If conception is successful and pregnancy begins, the level of the hormone increases even faster, and from about 16 weeks the placenta also begins to produce it. At a low level, the probability of pregnancy is very low, and if it happens, it can end in miscarriage.
Therefore, depending on the doctor’s recommendations, approximately on the 5th day of the cycle, a progesterone level test is taken. The procedure is needed to determine how favorable the conditions are for pregnancy.
A deficiency or excess of the hormone is manifested by symptoms: bloating, menstrual irregularities, vaginal bleeding, soreness in the breast area and sudden mood swings.
How to increase progesterone levels
Not every miscarriage occurs due to insufficient progesterone production. However, many doctors agree that sufficient levels of this hormone are necessary to maintain the early stages of pregnancy. Therefore, if it is lowered, the doctor prescribes a course of therapy. The following products are currently available to increase progesterone levels:
vaginal capsules (considered the recommended method of hormone administration); intramuscular and vaginal injections (this method is contraindicated if you are allergic to peanuts); vaginal cream; oral medications.
Numerous studies have shown that good nutrition has a beneficial effect on progesterone levels. Your doctor may advise you to add foods to your diet that increase progesterone in the blood. Therefore, before agreeing to take hormones directly, try to improve its production through a healthy lifestyle.
